Research Project Summary

Year Funded: 2010 Budget: 100,510 Funding Agency: WorkSafeBC
Title: Workplace Fatal and Serious Injuries in British Columbia: Comparison of Case Ascertainment across Data Sources
Category: Intervention Research
Subcategory: Intervention Research
Keywords: Work-related injury, workers’ compensation; hospital discharge records, Canada
Link to research website:

Issue:

Several studies indicate that work-related injuries and disease are under-reported, but there is limited evidence that this issue persists for work-related fatalities and serious injuries (fractures, amputations, internal injuries, burns/electrocutions, head/spinal injuries) within the Canadian context. It is thought that many of the reasons for under-reporting of injuries in many surveillance systems should not come into play for work-related fatalities and serious injuries. This study will estimate the total number of work-related fatalities and serious injuries in B.C. using multiple data sources covering the period 1986 to 2008, investigate agreement across data sources and with workers’ compensation claims, and assess the factors associated with cases not found in the workers’ compensation database.

Objectives:

This research will compare work-related fatal and serious injury cases identified in workers’ compensation claim data with cases identified in vital statistics death certificates, coroner’s investigative reports and hospitalization records for the period 1986 to 2008 in B.C. Its objective is to help improve procedures for eligible workers and their families who may not be accessing benefits, improve estimates of the true prevalence of work-related fatal and serious injuries for priority setting, and improve the use of workers’ compensation claim data for surveillance and research purposes.

Anticipated Results:

It is anticipated that this project will improve procedures to ensure that all work-related fatalities and serious injuries are captured by WorkSafeBC, and in turn, that all eligible workers and their families access workers’ compensation benefits.

Investigators:

Mieke Koehoorn (University of British Columbia)